Florida's weekend included a win against No. 2 Oregon.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Florida (21-0) received all but one first place vote as it continued its perfect start and strengthened its hold of the top spot in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, announced Tuesday by the Association. The top four spots remained the same, but undefeated LSU joined the party as it moved up two spots to No. 5.
The Gators received 27 first place votes and a total of 699 points after a 5-0 week, which included a 3-0 win against No. 2 Oregon at the San Diego Classic I and a 2-1 nailbiter at home versus No. 17 UCF. In the highly anticipated game between the top two teams, UF’s Delanie Gourley held the high-powered Duck offense to just two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out eight. During Florida’s undefeated week, the pitching staff surrendered just two runs, posted three shutouts, struck out 41 (3 walks) and held opponents to a .117 average (12-103) in 31 innings.The Ducks (16-1) remained at No. 2 (655 points) and received the other first-place vote, but saw their hold dwindle down to just two points over No. 3 Michigan. Alabama stayed at No. 4, while the other 21-0 team, LSU, made its way into the top five for the first time this season. Oregon went 2-1 on the weekend picking up an 8-6 victory against St. John’s and a 7-3 triumph over host San Diego State at the rain-shortened San Diego Classic I.
Michigan (653 points) continued to knock of nationally-ranked programs on the road as it extended its winning streak to 18 games. The Wolverines’ (18-1) 5-0 weekend saw them knock off then-No. 21 Arizona State twice, 7-5 and 6-2 while also cruising past Toledo twice (20-5 / 15-0) and Binghamton (9-0). Michigan’s offense launched 20 home runs, including six in one inning in the first game against Toledo, batted .442 and scored 58 runs at the ASU Louisville Slugger Invitational.
